Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-02-25
COMMUNICATED.
TExAKKANA, ARK.
.January 3lst. 1887.

January 3lst, 1887.
Messrs Editors.-I have no doubt you will
be somewhat surprised to hear from me.
have been so unfortunate as to have had
three months sickness, and am still in my
room, but am improving fast. In the first
place, am going to reprimand you for pub
fishing my other letter, as feel as If didn't
do myself justice, or the town in which we
have chosen to locate. Charles and / are set
tied in business, and we are doing well, but ut
the same time / never will forget my old
birth place and my old friends. The first
thing on Monday morning send to the office
for my paper, the dear old REGISTER, which
is sweet to me. The first thing look for are
the deaths and marriages, and In fact read
every line. But, to come to the point, as i
don't wish TO make my letter long and tedi-
Gus, but wish to give my friends an idea Of
the town in which we have located Texar-
kama contains about 5000 inhabitants, and is
located on a high and dry plat of ground,
where pure water is obtained by digging or
boring wells to the depth of from 20 to SOfeet.
The country adjacent is billy, and was origi-
nally pine forest interspersed with various
oaks. The other side OF the city is located in
Arkansas, being separated from the west
side, which is In Texas, by State Line avenue,
and the population is about 1000, composed
Of people of all nationalities, but mostly
Americans from the eastern States Each
side has Its separate city government, Its
mayor and city council, police force, etc.,
though both sides work harmoniously to-
gether in all public enterprises. Texarkana,
Arkansas, is tine county seat Of Miller coun-
ty, and has It's court. house, jail, postoffice,
etc. Texarkana, Texas, is the county seat of
Bowie county, and also has its rt-house,
Jail, postoffice, etc. The Texas side already
has system of water works and electric
lights, while the Arkansas side now has
water works in course Of construction, and
electric lights over the city, and very soon
street railroads will be in operation all over
Texarkana, while gas works and incandes-
cent lights will be here in the near future.
Both sides have excellent public schools and
large, well -furnished school houses, while
the Sisters of st. Agnes have established
splendid reputation for their academy, thus
giving our city unsurpassed educational facil-
tiles. Our public schools are now upon a
permanent basis, and are justly the pride of
the city. Almost every denomination have
handsome houses Of worship, and all persons
can worship freely according 10 the dictates
of their own conscience. We have a large
number of mercantile establishments OF all
kinds, from the largest to the smallest, all of
which seem to be doing good business. In
fact, 1t il really marvellous to consider the
extent Of our commercial business, which Is
conducted by business men Of enterprise and
fairness. Two solid, substantial banks do an
immense business: loans are made at l2l5 to
Is per cent. and demands the best of security.
So they are growing rapidly all the time. All
of our secret societies have lodges in success
full operation, and the Masonic Hall is one of
the most elegant in the southwest. When
we consider that Texarkana is just twelve
years old, It's advancement and improve
ment is wonderful. Within the last twelve
months over fifty brick houses have been
constructed, among which are two splendid
hotels costing each over $4,000, and at this
time at least one hundred new residences
are in course reconstruction. The Iron Noun
tain, T. p, T. c., l. & G. N, st L. A. & T. rail-
roads all centre here, while active work goes
forward in the construction of the TeXar-
kama & Northern, leading from here to Fort
Snlln, anu tue COulTdCl Tue
Of a road from here to Long View, and sew
eral private roads are owned by lumbermen,
which lead out into the lumber. A splendid
system of telephones go over the city,. We
have the largest cotton-seed oil mill in the
world, large foundries, cotton compress, ma
chine shops, planning mills, saw mills, pot
teries and other manufacturing establish
ments, but we need more and believe Texar-
kama presents an excellent opening, espec-
tally for wholesale dealers and manufacturing
establishments. Our facilities for transpor-
tation are unsurpassed, while we are sur
rounded by all kinds Of raw material ready
to be worked up. 1 will bring my letter to a
close. Hope my friends will pardon me for
writing this long and tedious letter, but any
one wishing to know any thing in regard TO
this country, will be glad to give them all
the Information can. / remain,
Very Respectfully, Yours,
j. W. FAwCETT.